Hong Kong Makes it Harder to Recycle

500 of these recycling bins are being removed from HK streets

Why does the Hong Kong government make it so hard for people to recycle?

Its "Litter Cum Recyclables Collection Bins" were on many street corners, but thanks to zero public education, many residents did not use them correctly and threw trash into the recycling bins or any bin that was not yet full.

The government is now removing 500 of these long rectangular bins that didn't hold enough recycling in the first place because they weren't cleared out fast enough, and now people who want to recycle must find the nearest recycling centre, that for many will hardly be convenient.

Mobile recycling points are only open during office hours

Only 200 will remain, while the 1,100 recycling bins will stay in rural and fringe areas.

There are government mobile recycling collection points, but they are only during office hours during the week which isn't beneficial for most people.

So again I ask -- why is the government making it so hard for people to recycle?

Many have become much more environmentally conscious and are making an effort, so why not give them an outlet to do that and keep less garbage from entering the landfills, which we have been told over and over are almost full?

In his first policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu suggested mandatory recycling at housing estates of more than 1,000 families and single buildings with 100 households or more before 2024.

Wan Chai recycling depot has nice design

The Environmental Protection Department said it began studying the legal framework and operational details of the proposed regulation... and more bureaucratic hurdles. How hard is it to set up a recycling centre in housing estates?

In 2015 the government set up a Green@Community scheme to promote recycling in society, and so far has set up 43 collection stations and more than 120 makeshift recycling stops at regular locations. One that I have visited is in Wan Chai in a beautifully designed space -- but it is hardly located in a convenient place where there is a lot of foot traffic. Instead it's near the SPCA and while it's near the Wan Chai Harbourside Park, the road traffic makes it difficult (and dangerous) to cross over there...

A 26-year-old university researcher by the name of Beatrice Chau feels "tortured" whenever she carries 15kg of cardboard, cans and glass bottles to the Tin Hau recycling station, 20 minutes from her home.

"I dreamed about making it a habit and recycling every week, but then reality is that I can only do it every two to three weeks, and I won't go until I can no longer stand the pile at home," she said. "There is no shade along the way. When days are hot, I'm soaked in sweat making that trip."

Inside are recycling bins for all kinds of waste

In some ways her comment is laughable -- isn't she doing this for the good of the environment and it will get hotter if she doesn't continue recycling. At the same time the government is not making it easier for people like Chau to recycle or be motivated to recycle.

Gael Cheng, 38, is an IT technician who lives in Tuen Mun. He has never been to any government recycling station because he has to take a train and walk 10 minutes to get there.

"I don't feel the government has ever encouraged us to recycle," he said. "Without the recycling bins, I wouldn't recycle at all. It is not compulsory anyway."

Why is the government making it so hard for people to recycle?

It's baffling what the government's strategy is when it comes to the environment. It's a joke that makes wannabe recyclers feel that their contribution is meaningless.